A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck central Chile, with shaking felt across the Valparaiso region and in the capital, Santiago, according to preliminary data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The earthquake struck at 4:34 p.m. local time on Sunday and was centered in the Valparaiso region, according to preliminary information from the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n EMSC placed the epicenter about 26 kilometers (16 miles) from Vi\u00f1a del Mar and about 115 kilometers (71 miles) from Santiago. It struck at a depth of 16 kilometers (10 miles).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The earthquake was widely felt across the region, including in Valparaiso and Santiago, where some people reported receiving phone alerts moments before the shaking began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Felt reports indicated moderate to strong shaking in some areas, especially on upper floors, but there were no immediate indications of major impacts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chile is one of the world\u2019s most earthquake-prone countries because it sits along the boundary between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates. Strong earthquakes are relatively common in the country, including along its central coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n